The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-09-30
W. O. T. q.
Opening Of The State Convention Tuesday
Afternoon.
A Detailed Report.

ouSS, hSofiy Two uunuTcu ucicRdtcS pc-
ing present. 1t was an unusually in
telligent looking body of ladies'.
The exercises were opened by sing
ing Crock of Ages" the convention ris-
ing during the rendition. Mrs. E. b.
Croker, of Minneapolis, read select
ion from the Scripture, which was fol-
lowed bv prayer offered by the presi-
dent. Roll call of State officers and
superintendent and organizers showed
all of the former and most of the latter
to be present. The minutes OF the Ex-
ecutive Committee meetings were read
and stood approved.
The selection of standing committees
was taken up and the president being
given the appointing power, the following
committees were pointed:
Credentials.-Mrs. p. L. Gross, of
Minneapolis, Mrs. Frances Neal, of
Minneapolis, and Mrs. Anna Croker, Of
Minneapolis.
Courtesies.-Miss Anna Hawley and
Mrs. J. l.. Washburn, of Mankato.
Finance.-Mrs. c. ii. Smith, of Min
neapolis, Mrs. &. A. Knox, of Red Wing
and Miss A. Nj. Henderson, of Mime
apolis.
Resolutions.-Mrs. l.. X. Clark, of
Mortified, chairman; Mrs Anna Hill,
Mrs. DIR. Denton, Mrs. McKinstrv, Mrs.
{. j. Neon. Mrs. l.. b. Briggs, Miss He.
Mrs. Addie Krebbs.
Constitution.-Miss Ella Miller, of
Marshall, Mrs. III. w. Featherstone, of
Anoka; Mrs. Hathaway, of Saltwater;
Mrs. lansing, of Minneapolis; Miss A.
Nj. Henderson, of Minneapolis; Miss
Holbrook; Mrs. Clara Holbrook Smith,
of Minneapolis; Mrs. Winchell, of Min
neapolis, and Mrs. Swart.
Auditing.-Mrs. Z. M. Berry, Of New
port, and Mrs. Davidson. of Austin.
President Hobart made some interest
ing remarks about the work of the w.
&. L. U. and comphmented the ladies on
their efforts. She then proceeded to
make report on the school ofmethods,
making some very valuable suggestions.
The one at Waseca last summer was
very successful and she recommended
that two be established, one in the north
and one in the south part of the state.
The corresponding secretary, Mrs. Z
s. Wright, of Red Wing, was introduced
to the convention and made her report.
1t showed a prosperous condition of the
various temperance unions of the state.
The total membership in the state was
shown to be 1, 429, an increase of 1000
during the year.
The president strongly urged that the
various unions hold their meetings Of
ten and the delegates joined in another
song.
The reports of the District Presidents
was next in order on the program. Mrs.
Dockstader, of the Dakota district, pre-
sented the only report, showing a most
prosperous condition of affairs in that
district. The other presidents were
absent.
Mrs. Clara Holbrook Smith addressed
the convention in very interesting
manner about the w. G. L. u. booth at
the Minneapolis exposition and related
the good that it had done.
Rev. q. r. Hair was introduced and
expressed his confidence in the w. G.
I. u. Rev. J. n. Liscomb was also in
troduced and made some encouraging
remarks, after which the doxology was
sung and the delegates were dismissed
by him with benediction.
TUESDAY EVENING.
The floor of the Opera House was
completely filed last evening by dele
gates and spectators who came to wit
ness the exercises of the w. G. T. u.
The audience was composed almost en-.
tirely of ladies.
The exercises of the evening were
opened bya song pleasantly sung by
the Band of Hope and Loyal Legion,
both composed of children.
A choir composed of Mrs. d. A.
Swami, Miss Hattie A. Hale and Messrs.
Washburn and Haynes rendered a song
in very creditable manner. Mrs. L.
b. Briggs, of Marshall, read selection
from Scripture, after which Mrs. C. A.
Knox, of Red Wing, offered prayer
The Band of Hope and Loyal Legions
then advanced upon the stage once more
and entertained the audience with an.
other song. In marching back and
forth and in discipline they showed that
they had received careful training.
Mrs. l.. q. Rogers, of Mankato, in 8
graceful speech welcomed the officers
and delegates to Mankato on behalf OF
the local w. Z. I. U. Rev. III. A. Bush.
nell added words of welcome on behalf
of the ministers of the city.
Mrs. NJ. E. Hoover, of Buffalo, re.
piled on behalf of the visiting delegates.
Miss Eta Hill gave recitation en-
titled "The Ship, Prohibition" in q
very pleasing manner.
Mrs. Gen. G. o. Van Cleve, of Mime
apolis, was introduced and gave an in
teresting and instructive address upon
Social Purity" She stated some plain
facts in unmistakable language. She
said that those who are most sensitive
about speaking of the social evil are the
ones who read with the most avidity the
shocking details of the startling crimes
which every day appear in the newspa-
pers, and that they will bear watching.
She Thought men should be as pure as
women. She stated that there are
enough laws on the subject in the penal
code but they were not enforced. She
asked how many would take in an out
cast woman ifthey knew where she
came from. The idea that "boys were
coarser than girls and could stand more"
was a mistaken one. She would rather
have small pox brought into her home
than evil companions for her children.
The idea that the life of a fallen woman
is pleasant one is mistake as she had
heard fallen women say that it was the
most dreadful life imaginable. Some of
them had been saved and converted
and some had been worthily married
and had raised families, so there was
nothing in the general feeling that it is
impossible to save them. She stated
the objects of the "White Cross society,""
one being to maintain equal social puri-
ty in men as in women. She referred
to the cases of Mary Sylvester and Maud
Compson in very affecting terms. In
speaking of the goodness of God in per-
hitting the escape of the former she
was applauded. She had stood at the
bedside of Maud Compson and she was
particularly affecting in her narration of
the scene. She stated that one of the
causes of these crimes was lack of
proper public opinion, which condition